A boat carrying migrants from Africa capsized, killing dozens of people

Egyptian Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said the total number of dead was still unknown. Local official Alaa Osman said at least 155 people had been rescued but bodies were still being pulled from the water.

The boat was carrying 600 people, according to Egypt's official news agency.

Fleeing war and poverty

The number of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean from Egypt to Europe has increased significantly. More than 12,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Egypt between January and September, compared to 7,000 in the same period last year, according to EU border agency Frontex. They make the dangerous voyage to flee war and poverty, but new routes, some of which run through Egypt, make the risky journey more dangerous.